The Perry Panthers’ Cinderella postseason run continues. A team that limped into the playoffs with a 9-13 record is now on the doorstep of a Division II state championship.
Perry’s latest upset came Friday night when they shocked the 24-1 North Royalton Bears, 66-63, in a thrilling Final Four showdown. The Panthers, now 14-13, overcame an 11-point deficit in the second half and delivered in the clutch to secure their spot in the title game.
“We never talk about past mistakes,” Perry head coach Matt Voll said. “We always find solutions and stay connected. Our kids responded down 11, fed off the crowd, and overcame technical issues.”
A Battle from the Start
The first quarter ended deadlocked at 16-16, but North Royalton took control early in the second. A surge from Lincoln Lee, who scored seven straight points, gave the Bears a 26-18 lead, forcing Perry to call a timeout 2:30 into the second quarter.
Despite the Panthers’ efforts to close the gap, North Royalton maintained a 35-29 advantage at the break, thanks in part to a last-second three-point attempt blocked by Perry’s Drake Jacobsen.
North Royalton extended its lead to 11 in the third quarter before Perry clawed back, trimming the deficit to 47-45 heading into the final period.
Perry’s Resilience Pays Off
Perry didn’t take its first lead until 4:14 remained in the game when Luke Wolf muscled in a basket in the paint to put the Panthers ahead 56-54.
Then, controversy struck. Perry guard Darnell McLeod threw down a powerful dunk through contact, but instead of getting a foul call in his favor, he was hit with a technical foul for his reaction. The Bears capitalized, sinking two free throws and converting a layup to tie the game at 60 with 1:43 to play.
Despite the setback, Perry stayed composed. Preston Dazey grabbed an offensive rebound, drew a foul on the putback attempt, and knocked down both free throws to put the Panthers ahead 62-60 with 1:21 left.
With 22 seconds remaining, Perry clung to a 64-63 lead as Wolf stepped to the free-throw line. He calmly sank both shots, sealing the Panthers’ stunning victory and securing their first trip to the state championship game.
Embracing the Moment
Voll, formerly the head coach at Carrollton and New Philadelphia, is making his first appearance in a state championship. He credited the team’s resilience and the electric atmosphere inside the fieldhouse for fueling their success.
“The crowd was energetic, helped fuel our team, and created an intimate atmosphere,” Voll said. “It felt like a smaller version of St. John Arena.”
Now, the Panthers turn their attention to the ultimate prize—winning it all.
“We’re not focused on the past,” Voll said. “We focus on the next play, solve problems, and stay together. That’s why we’re here.”
Perry will now prepare for the Division II state championship game, where they will look to complete their improbable run with the ultimate triumph.
